The Best & Worst Freelancing Platforms of 2024 (upwork, fiverr, peopleperhour, toptal, guru, etc)

Summary

This video script reviews various freelancing platforms, highlighting their pros and cons. It discusses platforms like Upwork, People Per Hour, and Fiverr, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right platform for a freelancer's skill level and experience. The script provides a tier list and a strategy for effectively using freelancing platforms, suggesting a focused approach and consistent effort for success in the competitive market.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Upwork is recognized as the starting point for many freelancers but is criticized for its competitive nature and high fees.
• 💼 People Per Hour is considered an old platform with over a million clients but is known for its heavy fees and competitive environment.
• 🔍 BRB is a newer platform offering services for influencers and freelancers, with a unique marketplace but currently lacks clients.
• 🌐 Fiverr is praised for its large buyer base and ease of use, but criticized for competitive pricing and high fees on earnings including tips.
• 🎉 Toptal is highlighted for its exclusivity, high average hourly rates, and serious clients, but is limited to certain job types and has a stringent application process.
• 🏆 Freelancer.com is one of the largest platforms with many jobs and clients, but suffers from heavy competition and a unique contest system that may not favor freelancers.
• 🛠 Guru is noted for having a better freelancer-to-job ratio but is criticized for its subscription model and high commission fees.
• 💡 Ripple is a newer platform with no fees and less competition, focusing on marketing jobs, but it requires an application to join and has fewer clients.
• 🌟 Contra is highly recommended for its freelancer-first approach, offering no fees, freelancer protections, and a minimum rate policy, despite being a newer platform.
• 🔑 FlexJobs offers a wide variety of jobs with human-vetted postings, but it lacks a free version and has a subscription model that may not be cost-effective for all freelancers.
• 📈 The speaker suggests a strategy of focusing on a maximum of two platforms and establishing a consistent weekly routine to avoid feeling overwhelmed and to increase the chances of success.

Q & A

What is the first freelancing platform mentioned in the script and why does the speaker have mixed feelings about it?

The first freelancing platform mentioned is Upwork. The speaker has mixed feelings because, although it helped them get started in freelancing, they find it very competitive and have concerns about its bidding system and high fees.

How many active core clients does Upwork have according to the script?

Upwork has 150,000 active core clients.

What is the main advantage of having a diverse range of jobs on a freelancing platform?

The main advantage is that it increases the likelihood that a freelancer with any given skill set will find a job that matches their abilities.

What are the variable fees for People Per Hour and how does the speaker feel about them?

People Per Hour has variable fees: 20% on earnings below £250, 7.5% on earnings between £250 and £5,000, and 3.5% on earnings over £5,000. The speaker finds the fee system confusing and considers it the most ridiculous among the platforms discussed.

What is the issue with the customer service experience on People Per Hour according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions that getting in touch with customer service on People Per Hour is a huge headache, indicating a potentially poor customer support experience.

What is the main feature of ABetterBRB that allows Freelancers to also sell services as influencers?

ABetterBRB sets up a marketplace similar to Fiverr, where Freelancers can set a price for their services and clients can browse these offerings.

Why does the speaker consider Fiverr's default setup of packages over hourly rates as a huge advantage for Freelancers?

The speaker believes that packages are advantageous because they provide clarity to clients on what they will receive for their money, unlike hourly rates where the outcome is uncertain.

What is the main drawback of Fiverr's fee structure according to the script?

The main drawback is that Fiverr takes a flat 20% fee on all earnings, including tips, which the speaker finds to be quite high and burdensome.

What is unique about Toptal's approach to Freelancing and what are some of its pros and cons?

Toptal is unique in that it focuses on high-quality clients and requires a $500 deposit from them. Pros include high average hourly rates and serious clients. Cons are the exclusivity of the platform, limited job types, and a fee structure that is not transparent to the speaker.

What is the speaker's strategy for using freelancing platforms effectively?

The speaker recommends picking a maximum of two platforms and creating a weekly system for applying to jobs and doing outreaches. They suggest committing to this system for at least two to three months to see results.

What is the main advantage of Ripple as a freelancing platform?

The main advantage of Ripple is that it has no fees and less competition due to its exclusive nature, requiring Freelancers to apply to join the platform.

What does the speaker like most about the platform called Contra?

The speaker likes that Contra has no fees for Freelancers, offers protections such as a dispute system, and insists on minimum rates for jobs, which helps filter out clients looking for extremely low rates.

What is the main concern the speaker has about FlexJobs in terms of its subscription model?

The main concern is the cost-effectiveness of the subscription model, starting at $10 per week, which may not be worth it for general freelancers constantly looking for clients.

Why does the speaker suggest that Freelancers should avoid participating in contests on Freelancer.com?

The speaker suggests avoiding contests because they can be likened to a 'hunger game' style competition where only one person gets paid for the work, which is not a fair or reliable way to earn income as a Freelancer.